Lymphoma: clinical study and the clinical significance of serum phospholipase A2

ABSTRACT

Phospholipase-A2 is an important enzyme in prostaglandin synthetic pathway. Its activity levels were studied in 25 patients with non- Hodgkins lymphoma [NHL] as well as 30 patients with Hodgkins disease, besides 15 patients with non-neoplastic lymphadenopathy and 20 healthy subjects. The study revealed significantly increased levels of enzyme activity in patients with lymphoma compared with controls and cases with non-neoplastic lymphadenopathy. The activity levels were higher in NHL compared with HL but the differences did not reach the level of significance. Patients with advanced stages [III and IV] had significantly higher levels than those with early stages [I and II]. Hepatosplenic involvement is also associated with significant increase in enzyme activity levels. The activity levels of the enzyme did not correlate with total leucocytic counts in all patients groups. The altered enzyme activity could reflect increased oxidant stress known to be present in these patients. It seems to be a valuable new tumor marker which can aids the diagnosis, staging and can reflect the prognosis in cases with lymphoma